James Dawson (b. circa ? - d. 1835)
MSA SC 5496-050696
War of 1812 Claimant, Talbot County, Maryland, 1828
Biography:
James Dawson was a property owner who lived in Election District
2 in Talbot County,
Maryland. Dawson married to Mary Smyth March 20, 1798 in Talbot
County. He and his wife had seven children Louisa, Mary Ann, Sarah,
James Charles, Thomas, and Edward. Dawson was a property owner who held
a small enslaved labor force. In 1813, Dawson held six enslaved people
in his possession. Among the six slaves were one adult male Thomas age
20, one adult female Mary age 22, two boys Dick and Frisby, and two
girls Fanny and Easther. It is not stated how these enslaved people are
related, but the ages suggest that there are two parents with four
children.
During the war, Dawson was taken prisoner in his
residence. The rest of his family deserted the dwelling house. On or
about August 26, 1813, Dawson and several of his neighbors, including
Francis Wrightson, were captured and taken as prisoners by British
officers who carried them on board the St. Domingo. During this time an
enslaved child Frisby, aged 2 or 3 years, was carried away by the
British. Dawson was informed that the young enslaved child was
carried away by the British on to one of their vessels. At the time
that Frisby was taken from Dawson’s home he was two years old and valued at $10.
After
the war ended Maryland slaveholders submitted claims to the Department
of State. A commission was formed to handle the claims and having to
divide the money amongst property owners in several states, it was
decided that Maryland and Virginia residents would be compensated $280
for each enslaved property that they lost during the war. James Dawson
submitted a claim for indemnification for the British removing Frisby
from his home. Dawson gave his testimony before Thomas
Kemp, a Justice of the Peace for Talbot County. Kemp lived in a farm
that adjoined the farm of James Dawson. Charles Smith, a resident of
Tilghman Island, Talbot County, Maryland, gave a deposition to support
Dawson’s claim. In the claim Dawson claimed that Frisby would have sold
for $250. James Dawson was awarded $280 for the loss of his slave
Frisby.
Dawson continued to hold a small enslaved labor force. In 1817 he was assessed for seven enslaved people. There were two additional slaves, Stanley and Juliana, in addition to the above mentioned slaves. By 1826, Dawson owned nine enslaved men, women, and children. However, Thomas and Mary were not among the slaves that he owned at that time.
In 1828, Mary Dawson left her husband. In response, James Dawson placed an ad in the local newspaper forwarning people from crediting his wife on his account. He refused to pay any debts she may incur. About the same time Dawson placed an add for the sale of his farm which was situated in the Bay Side Hundred about six miles from Haddaway's Ferry.
James
Dawson died in 1835. His slaves were distributed amongst his children.
Dick was given to Dawsons son James, Bob was given to Charles Dawson,
Jim was given to Thomas Dawson, and Edward Dawson received John. In the
final account of administration Dawson's daughters also received
slaves. Dawson's daughter Louisa Kirby was given Hester, another
daughter Mary Ann was given Julia, and Sarah Dawson received Priscilla.
Dawson made provisions in his will for his slaves Stanley and Dick to
recieve his wearing apparel to be equally divided among them.
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